Vern Smith has a passion for March Madness and the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

"When a game is on I watch it," Smith said, and added that he is glued to the television watching basketball this time of year. And, Smith know a thing or two about the tournament, having been a participant in his college days.

March Madness this season has been quite an enjoyable one for the retired Yreka High teacher and guidance counselor who has lived in Yreka since 1970.

His Wichita State Shockers are playing in the Sweet 16 as a No. 9 seed after upsetting top seed Gonzaga in the West region last weekend. They take on another surprise team in La Salle, the No. 13 seed, tonight in Los Angeles.

Smith was a starter on the Shockers basketball team that made the NCAA Final Four in 1965.

Smith believes Wichita State should be able to pull off the victory and move on to the Elite 8. After that, Smith said "It's going to be a lot tougher for them.They have been looking good, but it's win or go home," Smith said.

As he has done for a number of years, Smith is taking part in an NCAA Tournament poll with family and friends. Smith still has all four of his Final Four teams still left. His picks for the Final Four are Kansas, Louisville, Indiana and Ohio State. At this time, Simth said he would not be surprised if fellow No.1 seeds, Louisville and Kansas make it to the finals but said he believes that it is certainly not set in stone, with upsets taking place a distinct possibility.

Smith, who is from the state of Kansas, said if the Jayhawks make it to the finals he would be rooting for them.

"My heart is with them," he said.

But what happens if Wichita State makes it to the finals and faces Kansas? That's an easy one to answer, Smith said,adding that of course he will be rooting for the Shockers.

"It would be crazy," Smith said with a smile. "I would love it."

Last season, Smith and his wife received tickets from their kids for Christmas to the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament in Portland,Ore. It so happened that they got to see the Shockers play. While Vern won't be going to any tournament games live this season, he said he is more than content to root for the Shockers at home.

When asked if being a former player helps him make picks, Smith said that while he is knowledge in the sport, it can be a crap shoot. After all, he said, he has been part of bracket contests where someone with a limited amount of knowledge about college basketball wins or fare well.